Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-04-16

invested in the production of fruit. This /.
condition of affairs was claimed 10 exist /
because of the high rate of freight On ship |
nlents Of fruit East. The existence of such |
feeling in the minds of the growers
caused the question to be discussed until it
attracted the attention of Governor Stan
ford, who said that he thought il a very
important matter, and one which should be
given the most careful consideration, and
he said to number of our growers that ''if
the fruit-growers of California will come
together and organize, SO that they can,
through an authorized head, or a commit
tee representing them state what in their
| judgment is necessary to be done by the
railroad companies to promote the fruit in
terrsts of California, and their propositions
| are reasonable no doubt there can be an
understanding arrived at, and all differ
ences adjusted in such manner as will be
satisfactory to all parties interested" Ibe-
| lieve Governor Stanford meant what he
! then said.
There Immediately followed an effort to
organize the growers in the way suggested
| by Governor Stanford. Meetings were
called for that purpose, and an organization
| was perfected, but not such one as was
originally suggested. 1t is known as the
California Fruit Union. What are the
principles upon which this Union is con-
structed? Does the Union, or not, propose
a reduction in freights to its members
only? Does the Union, or not, demand
from its MEMBERSHIP great body of them
AN unconditional control of their fruit?
There is but one answer to these questions,
and that is in the affirmative.
OBJECTIONS AND REMEDY
One of the most serious objections to the
| plan adopted by the Union is that it vir-
tually takes all buyers out of the market,
excepting those who, in the judgment of
its management, ought to enjoy that priyi-
| lege, and for the very good reason that any
man who possesses common sense, business
education and qualifications to accumulate
money ought to enable him to successfully
conduct the business of buying fruit to
sell in Eastern markets, has too much sound
business sense to do SO unless he can con-
troll the fruit he buys and dispose of it as
he pleases. No sane man will buy fruit to
sell unless he viii have the right to dispose
of it in any market his judgment dictates
to him is best. He will not buy it and
place it in the hands Of others to control,
unless he possess the power to control
them.
The question is frequently asked, What
! can be done TO better things? Many think
that the power of the Fruit Union is so
great that it will succeed in controlling the
fruit interests of California, not IN the in
terest of the grower, but of the few, and
some believe there is no remedy. They
say that the Union has got us by the throat
with death grip, and that nothing can be |
done to compel its managers to let go their |
hold while others believe that all that is |
necessary in order to solve the question of |
successfully marketing all the fruit that is |
produced, or that ever will be produced, in |
California, is for the growers to come to- |
gether and organize for the purpose of |
properly presenting, through a committee |
appointed for this purpose, to the railroad |
companies what they believe should be done |
to best promote their interests-to wit Z: |
reduction in freight rates on shipments of |
green fruit to Eastern markets, and special |
fruit trains to be run through to the Mis-
souri, river on passenger-train time, and |
with privilege to all who wished the use
of such train, to ship fruit in carload lots |
to do so.
CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN
That none who were members of the com.
mittee appointed to present to the railroad |
this matter for consideration, believed that !
to succeed would result in the destruction |
of their property, for it is not reasonable |
to presume that men would labor earnestly |
and honestly to accomplish Their own |
financial ruin. l believe that if the grow |
ers would come together in the right way |
and select proper and faithful representa- |
tives-men whose hearts are in the cause |
they assumed to represent that the trans |
portatlon companies would grant all rea- |
sonable requests, and until this is done |
| and all growers and buyers are protected |
by securing to them equal rights and ia
cilities for disposing OF our fruit products |
in Eastern markets, there will be but little |
use in making efforts to get ND substan-
tial boom for Central and Northern Cali
fornia
1t is not reasonable to expect that men
will come here and invest their money in
land, the products of which they cannot
| control. Large sums of money have been
and are continually expended in advertis-
| ing the glorious climate" we eniov. and
the superior productive quality of our soil
while we all know this to be true, vet we
also know that higher prices cannot be OBJ |
tanned for land here than now rule, unless |
| 1t is used for other purposes than raising
wheat, barley, and hay. Before we can
expect TO
INCREASE THE VALUE OF OUR LANDS
We will not only have to show that they
will produce the finest quality of fruit in
abundance, but also that there will be de-
mand all that can be produced. Before
thrift and prosperity can reign to that de-
gree for our climate and country seems to
have been specially designed, our wheat
and barley fields must be transferred into
prolific and beautiful orchards and vine
yards, such as Central and Northern Cali
fornia is capable of producing.
But before this much desired condition
| of affairs can exist there is much to be
done. We of Central and Northern Cali
fornia, like Rip Van Wrinkle, have been
asleep while our brethren in Southern Cali
fornia have been laboring faithfully and
energetically to succeed, and their efforts
have been crowned with greater success
tha,, IL q
most sanguine of their number They
started in with determination to win, and
did win, and why? Because all obstacles
lying in their road were renoved-none
were permitted to remain to retard their
| progress to prosperity. Once the Fruit
Union tried to get footing there, but those
people understood their interests too we'll
to become its dupes, and they drove it from
their territory. Unfortunately it found a
footing here, and its shade hangs as pail
over our land, darkens our view; an OBJ
struction in the way of one of the most
beautiful visions in the world, such a one
as this country in which we live could soon
be made, were it not for the existence of
the California Fruit Union.
The speaker continued his remarks in
this direction, expressing the fear that the
organization referred to would, if it re-
renamed IN existence IN its present form
prove giant monopoly, and not for the
benefit of any except favored few
GENERAL DISCUSSION.
general discussion, responsive to the |
address, followed the Presidents remarks. |
which, while all in good temper, was ami !
mated, and eyinced a deep interest upon
the part of all present. The Chairman |
called upon II. Weipstock, Director and |
member of the Executive Committee of the |
Fruit Union, who was in attendance. for |
an expression Of his views. Mr. Weinstock |
responded quite at length, stating that |
year ago he strongly believed that the best |
method of disposing of our fruits was by |
securing the right for ell to ship in such |
quantities and TO such points as they de- |
sired and with transportation reduced to |
as low a rate as could be obtained Since |
then he had visited all the fruit market |
eenteTs of the East, and had come TO the |
conclusion that more systematic plan was |
necessary, which would prevent our fruits |
coming disastrously into competition with |
themselves in the Eastern markets. He !
thought the experience of last year also |
confirmed this necessity.
Mr.. Weinstock questioned J. T. Corn
forth, leading dealer in California fruits |
at Denver, who was present, but who de-